Match-box.



No. 683 55l. I 'Patented Oct. l l90l.

M. BYAL'L.

MATGH BCIX` v (Application ledvFeh, 1901) -Ulo Modeln :null

UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,551, dated October 1, 1901. Application filed February 4, 1901. Serial No. 45,982. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, MYER BYALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winterville, in the county of Vashington, State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to boxes in general, and more particularly to match-boxes, although it will be understood that it may be used for any other specific purpose; and the object of the invention is to provide what is known as a trick-box, which can only be opened by certain specific and non-apparent manipulation.

In the drawings forming a portion-of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure l is a perspective view of the box closed. Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the iirst movement to open the box. Fig. 3 is a top plan View showing the box open. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the closed box in regular position. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the closed box in an inverted position. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the cover. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the supplemental cover-plate.

Referring now to the drawings, the box comprises a body portion lO, having solid end portions 11 and 12 and an intermediate hollow portion 13, and upon the upper face of the portion 12 and at the end thereof are formed two spaced dovetails 14 and 15.

In connection with the body portion there is employed a cover 1G, having a thickened end 17, which projects upwardly from the upper face of the cover, and theinner end of which is cut bias and is beveled, so that it overhangs, asillustrated.

Through the thickened portion 11 of the body is formed a perforation 18, and registering therewith is a slot 19, formed through and extending longitudinally of the cover 16, the end of the cover having dovetailed grooves therein, as shown at 20, to receive the dovetails of the body of the box. Through the perforation and slot is passed abolt or headed pin 21, which permits the cover to be slid longitudinally to disengage the dovetails from the grooves 2O and then turned pivotally to expose the interior of the body ofthe box. When the cover is moved longitudinally to disengage the dovetails, the pin of course moves longitudinally of the slot 19 of the cover. In order to lock the cover against this slidable movement, which is necessary before pivotal movement can be given thereto, an oblong recess 22 is formed in the upper face of the cover and extending transversely thereof, this recess being so located that the slot of the cover terminates centrally thereof and is continued forwardly beyond the forward side of the recess-that is, in the direction of the dovetails. This recess 22 receives an oblong plate 23, which is pivotally mounted upon the pin, and when engaged with the recess pre-vents movement of the pin through the slot, and hence prevents the cover from being drawn longitudinally to disengage the dovetail connection. If the box be inverted, this plate will drop from the recess 22, and as the pin can then move through the slot the cover may be moved longitudinally to disengage the dovetails.

To conceal the plate 23, and, furthermore, to require other manipulation than reversal of the box to permit it to be opened, a supplemental cover-plate 24C is pivoted upon the pivot-pin and has one end cut bias and beveled, as shown at 25, whereby said supplemental cover-plate may be caused to lie upon the thinner portion of the cover and flush with the thicker portion and will be held from pivotal movement, excepting in one direction. This supplemental plate would, of

course,prevent the locking-plate 23 from drop-..

ping from the recess if unrecessed, and for this reason an oblong recess 27 is formed therein on its under side and extending 1ongitudin ally thereof, so that the supplemental cover-plate must be first rotated through ninety degrees to aline the two recesses, after which the box may be inverted and the locL- ing-plate will drop into recess 27 and from recess 22, when the cover may be slid longitudinally to disengage the dovetails and then moved rotatably, as hereinbefore described.

To lock the box, the cover is of course rotated to aline with the body and then moved longitudinally to engage the dovetails, after which the supplemental cover-plate may be IOO rotated to aline with the cover, which action will drop the. locking-plate into recess 22 if the box be in upright position, as Will be understood.

What is claimed isk A box comprising a body portion having a locking member, a pin engaged with the body, a cover having a slot in which the pin is received to permit of rotatable movement of the cover and limited sliding movement, said cover having a locking member for engagement with the member of the body when the cover is slidably moved, said cover having also a rectangular depression in its outer face With Which one end of the slot communicates and at right angles thereto, a locking-plate mounted slidably upon the pin for movement into the depression to hold the pin from movement through the slot Of the cover, and

for movement from said depression to permit such movement of the pin, and a supplemental cover-plate pivoted upon said pin for movement into and out of alinement With the cover, said supplemental cover-plate having a depression in its under face to receive the locking-plate from the first-named depression, said depressions being elongated and the locking-plate correspondingly shaped, a flange extending upwardly fromthe cover, and a metal strip attached to the flange to receive an end Of the supplemental cover.

In testimony whereof I hereunto sign my name, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, on the 7th day of January, 1901.

MYER BYALLA VitnesseS:

S. D. WILSON, M. L. SOLOMON. 

